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Touchdowns and Tiaras brings a new crowd to Air Force

One of the topics Air Force football coach Troy Calhoun often brings up in conversation is his desire that more people know the academy is accessible.
Not that Touchdowns and Tiaras, an event hosted by Calhoun and his wife, Amanda, on Wednesday night at the Holaday Athletic Center, was...

One of the topics Air Force football coach Troy Calhoun often brings up in conversation is his desire that more people know the academy is accessible.

+ captionTroy and Amanda Calhoun at a past event Photo by THE GAZETTE FILE

Not that Touchdowns and Tiaras, an event hosted by Calhoun and his wife, Amanda, on Wednesday night at the Holaday Athletic Center, was intended solely to bring people onto the academy grounds who may never have been there before. But it was a nice side benefit.

“I’d bet if you went within a 100-mile drive of the academy, not 5 percent have been to the academy,” Troy Calhoun said. “I think a lot of it is they don’t know if they can get on the grounds of the academy, to go to the chapel, to see the cadets march to a meal, to come to a game. Here’s a way we can inform a few more people, that is absolutely possible.”

The event, which is in its second year, drew more than 200 people. The purpose is to have women come out in a relaxed setting and learn more about the game of football. Falcons assistant coaches try to break the game down for the attendees, explaining plays in detail but trying to keep it simple at the same time. Somehow, defensive line coach Ron Burton explained “Nose Right Cross Dog Left” well enough that the women lined up and ran the play pretty much as it was diagrammed.

“It’s been great,” said Amanda Calhoun, who said a portion of the proceeds were going to the Waldo Canyon fire fund. “Just to get women more involved, and feel like it’s an environment where they can ask questions, and they have a great time.”

The Calhouns said they hope to add more events similar to Touchdowns and Tiaras to reach out to the community, and promote awareness of Air Force football. To Troy Calhoun, an Air Force alum, the academy is a source of pride. Calhoun thought Touchdowns and Tiaras showed women that Air Force football is accessible and enjoyable to everyone, and events like these show the academy grounds in general are accessible too.

“It gives people an appreciation for the cadets that are able to graduate from the Air Force Academy,” Troy Calhoun said. “The more you’re around them, the more you appreciate they’re top-notch men and women.”

NOTES

Calhoun has shared his top 25 college football poll with The Gazette in year’s past, and will do so again this season. It is posted on the Gazette’s Air Force blog every week. Calhoun has defending champion Alabama as his preseason No. 1 team. … Air Force has away and single-game tickets available now, by calling 800-666-8723 or going to goairforcefalcons.com.